Bag or purse frame



(No Model.)

L. B. PRAHAR. BAG OR PURSE FRAME.

No. 515,166. Patented rebfzo, 1'894.

WITNESSES.

6 A /N VE N 70/? A M W -6AM ATTOHNE ms NATIONAL LII'NOGIAFHING COMPANY.

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LOUIS B. PRAHAR, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

BAG OR PURSE FRAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,166, dated. February 20, 1894.

Application filed November 7, 1893. Serial No. 490,238- (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS B. PRAHAR, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a now and Improved Bag or Purse Frame, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in frames for bags, purses, and like articles, and it has for its objects to provide a latch for such frames, whereby the frame may be unlatched and opened With one hand only, and to so construct the latch that it will be exceedingly simple, durable and economic.

Theinvention consistsin the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

Reference isv to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures and letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is aperspective view of a bag frame in an open position, having the improved latch applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the frame and latch, taken practically on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, the frame being closed and locked by the latch. Fig. 3 is a section taken at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 2, and .likewise through the latch and frame. Fig. at is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 2, the latch and frame being shown in the position they occupy when partially closed or locked, or when partially opened or unlocked; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating the application of a coil instead of a strap spring to the bolt.

The frame A maybe of any size, of any material, or of any desired shape,being provided with the usual two members B and B. The bolt 10, is shown as being located upon the member B of the frame, while the keeper 11, is illustrated as occupying a corresponding position upon the member B. The bolt 10, is provided with a beveled upper surface 12, the bevel being downwardly in direction of the keeper. The bolt is held to slide in an aperture produced in a well or recess 13, located in the upper portion of a housing 14, the housing being secured in any suitable or approved manner to the member B of the frame. The bolt 10, is normally held in looking position, that is, above the upper face of the bottom of the well or recess 13, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, through the medium of a spring 15, said spring being located in the housing, and attached to or having bearing upon the lower end of the bolt. The spring 15 may be of any desired character, that shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings beingabow spring, and it is riveted on the bolt and has bearing upon the upper face of the frame member B.

The keeper 11, consists of a sleeve 11 ,which is held a suitable distance above the upper surface of the member B by means of a bracket 16, the bracket being securely fastened to the frame. A trip pin 17, is held to slide in the sleeve 11 of the keeper, as shown in Figs. 2, 3,4 and 5, and the said trip pin, while it extends upward beyond the top of the keeper sleeve has limited movement within. the sleeve. Usually, as shown in the drawings, the trip pin is made in two diameters, whereby a shoulder is formed, and the upward movement of the pin is limited by the shoulder being brought in engagement with a flange 18, formed upon the upper end of the sleeve. The outer end of the trip pin is preferably attached to a cap 19,and the said cap may be in the nature of a hollow ball, or other ornamental figure, and while the upper portion of the cap 19 conceals the upper end of the keeper sleeve 11, the lower portion of the cap is free to slide upon the exterior of the sleeve.

It will be understood that the upper surface of the bolt 10 need not be beveled its entire width, but only upon that portion which faces the keeper; and that the lower end of the trip pin 17, which is adapted to engage with the outer end of the bolt is preferably straight.

In the operation of closing the frame, the sleeve will pass over the bolt 10, depressing the same; and when the sleeve has fully entered the depression, well or recess 13 in the housing, the bolt will be free to enter the sleeve and force the pin 17 and the cap 19 upward, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby effecting a firm locking engagement between the two parts.

Under the arrangement above set forth the frame maybe opened with but one hand, but

when the usualform of latch is employed two hands are required for this operation. In opening aframe fitted with the improved latch, it is simply necessary to press down upon the cap 19, whereupon thetrip pin1'7,will be depressed and will force the bolt downward a sufficient distance to permit the sleeve to pass the bolt when outward lateral pressure is exerted upon the keeper. Usually the thumb is employed to operate the latch, and the movement in unlocking the frame is a downward and an outward lateral pressure. The manner in which the keeper clears the bolt is plainly illustrated in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the application of a coiled spring 15 to the bolt 10, instead of thegstrap-spring 15. When such an'application is adopted the bolt is made in two diameters,'and is provided with a flange which limits itsupward movement. Thespring is coiledaroundthe reduced portion of the bolt, andsaid portion extends through an opening in the frame, and the lower or inner portion of the bolt is flattened to prevent it from turning.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentp 1. In a'bag or purse frame, the combination with ahousing attached to one member of the frame and a spring pressed bolt in the housing and projecting above the top of the same, of a keeper secured to the other member of the frame,a cap sliding uponthe keeper, and a pin secured to the cap and working in the keeper and adapted to engage the bolt, substantially as described.

2. In a bag or purse frame, a housing provided with a depression or well, said housing being attached to one member of the frame, a spring controlled bolt having movement in the well or depression of the housing, a keeper carried by the opposite frame member, provided with a tubular section adapted to enter the well of the housing and receive the bolt, and a pin having sliding movement in the tubular section of the keeper, adapted for engagement with the bolt and capable of being operated at theex'teriorof the keeper, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a bag or'purseframe, the combination with a housing secured'to-one member of the frame and having a depression orwell,and-'a spring pressed bolt in the housing andhaving a beveled upper end,of abracket-secured to the other member of the frame and carry ing at its upper'end a sleeve adaptedto enter the well of the h0using,a cap fittedto slide on the said sleeve, and a pin made in two diameters, the smaller diameter projecting above the top of the sleeve and secured to the cap, substantially as described.

LOUIS 'B. PRAHAR.

Witnesses:

J. FRED. ACKER, O. SEDGWICK. 

